Adjustable concrete form clamp



Jan. v16, i951' w. KrrTAs 2,538,526"

ADJUSTABLE CONCRETE FORM CLAMP Filed June 25, 1950 A TTORNEY.

Patented `Fan. `1 6, 1951 usarse STATES PATENT OFFICE snrnsrlaeee CONCRETE FoRM CLAMP william maas', Fort Lauderdale, ria. Apparition .rune 2s, 1950, serial No. 169,859

2 Claims. s s

This invention relates to improvements in adjustable concrete form clamps and has ior'its object, a form clamp constructed in a manner to straddle a pair of spaced concrete forms in a manner to prevent the spreading of the forms when concrete is poured therein.

An object of the invention resides in providing a pair of rigid leg portions, having a cross head rigidly xed to the upper end of one leg and with the upper end of the other leg adjustably and pivotally connectedwith the cross head and toggle links connected with the legs at a point below the cross head in such manner that the pivotally connected leg may be shifted outwardly on its pivot to facilitate the engagement ofthe legs over the form boards, with the toggle links subsequently serving to shift the pivotally connected leg inwardly to firmly engage the sides of the forms to prevent spreading thereof when inward pressure is exerted thereon.

A further object of the invention resides in providing a pair of lugs-rigidly positioned upon one of the toggle links and adapted to engage over the upper edges of the form boards and to be positioned inwardly of the forms when the clamp is shifted to firm engagement with the forms and serving to prevent inward movement of the forms.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a rigid bracket upon one of the toggle links outwardly of the legs, to provide a socket for the reception of an aligning board, whereby aY plurality of form clamps spaced apart upon a form will be maintained in alignment and insure of a straight beam, lintel, belt course or the like poured in the forms. Y

In the formation of poured concrete beams, lintels, belt courses or the like, much difficulty has been experienced in maintaining the usual wood forms in a straight line and against spreading or otherwise shifting and the clamp of the present invention provides a veiy rigid and addescription, reference being had `to the accompanying drawings, wherein has been illustrated a preferred example of the invention and wherein like characters of reference are employed to denote like parts throughout.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a clampconstructed in accordance with the invention,

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof with the clamp in clamping engagement with the concrete forms,

Figure 3 is an edge view of the device and,

Figure 4 is a horizontal section, taken on line 44 of Figure 2. n

Referring specifically to the drawings, the numerals 5 and 6 denote a pair of identical rigid clamping legs, preferably formed of angle iron.

' The legs 5 and 6 are spaced apart a predeter- 5 mined distance and are arranged with one of justable structure that is easily engaged over the forms and quickly and easily moved to clamping engagement with the sides of the forms, with the clamps being employed in multiple and at predetermined points along the forms to prevent flexing of the forms when concrete is poured therein and in addition, each clamp equipped with a sock for the reception of an alignment board, such as a two by four that extends through the sockets of a plurality of the clampsY to retain the clamps in alignment and avoid any tendency toward twisting of the forms.

Other obvious features of novelty will be readily apparent during the course of the following their ilat anges in opposed relation to each other for flat clamping engagement with the outer sides of conventional wood forms "l, shown in Figure 2.

The leg 5 is rigidly connected, as by welding, at its upper end, to a right angle cross head, indica-ted in the present instance, as a bar 8. The bar 8 is pivotally and adjustably connected at 9, to the upper end of the leg G, the pivotal means being in the form of a bolt, whereby the leg 6 may be shifted outwardly to any one of a series of bolt'openings Ill, formed in the bar. The purpose of varying the spacing between the llegs 5 and 6, is to accommodate the clamp to forms of varying widths. While the legs 5 and 5 have been shown as being angle irons, it' will be apparent that other cross sectional irons may be employed, such as channel irons, T-irons or the like. While the cross head 8 has been shown as being a at iron bar, it will be apparent that an angle iron could be employed with equal success.

Means are employed to shift the leg 5 toward and from the leg 5, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 2, to facilitaterthe straddling engagement of the legs over the forms .l, comprising a toggle device, indicated as a whole by the numeral Il. The toggle device ll is arranged a predetermined distance below the cross head 8 and when in full clamping position, substantially parallels the cross head. vlThe toggle device includes a lever portion l2, curved at its free end. The lever is pivotally connected to the leg 5, as at I3. Atcggle link I4, is pivotally connected at l5 to the lever I2, outwardly of the leg 5, while the opposite end of the link I4 is detachably and adjustably connected to the leg 6,

3 by a removable bolt I6. The link I4 extends beyond the leg 6 a distance equal to the extension of the cross head 8 and is provided with a plurality of pivotal openings l'I, equal in number and spacing to the openings I0. Through the pivotal bolt connections Sand I6, the leg S may be easily adjusted outwardly to accommodate forms of varying widths, yet maintaining its normal parallel relation to the leg 5. The link i4, outwardly of the pivot I5, is provided with :an upstanding rigid bar E8, welded 'or otherwise permanently attached thereto.

The upper end of the bar is.

preferably inclined outwardly, as shown and for Y a purpose to be described. The lower end of the bar IS is bent inwardly at a right angle to provide a stop I9, that underlies the lever =li2 asa means to limit the downward swinging movement oi the lever to clamping position. The link Ill is provided with a pair of lugs 2B, welded thereto, serving as a means to engage over the upper edges of the forms 'l inwardly thereof, =to prevent any :tendency of the forms to flex inwardly ,prior to thelpouring of the concrete therein.

ln the use of the device, the vforms i are positioned and supported at proper elevation at the upper edge of a masonry wall El, withthe forms engaging the inner and outer Isides of the wall. A plurality of the Aclamp devices are adapted to be positioned in straddled ,relation to the forms at predetermined spaced points. then extended, lby swinging the lever l2 upwardly, as in 'dotted lines in Figure 2. This swinging movement shifts the corresponding end 'of the link upwardly and inwardly, with the result that the leg is Vshifted outwardly upon its pivot bolt 9, to the dotted vline position of Figure 2. Ifn this position, the 'legs can be easilyand lconvenient y engaged over the forms I 'to a point where the upper edges of the forms stop against the link ill. lever is then forced downwardly to the full line position, where iti-engages `the stop l, which action returns the leg Fa to 'its normal parallel relation to the leg 5 with lavrr-I-n clamping oi both legs 5 and E against the sides of the forms l'. As the link M moves downward- Each `clamp .is .Y

ly, the Vlugs ltd engage against the inner sides of the forms. The bar i3, in the clamping position `of the several parts, is normally parallel with the leg After the required number of clamp devices have been positioned upon the forms, ya preftwo by four timber of requiredl iejn'g'th is forced into the socket 22, formed bythe leg 5 'and the l, thus causing all the clamps in that particular group to become accuratelyal'ignedand insuring that the forms l will be maintained in 'a straight against twisting, when the concrete is poured therein. After the .concrete is suflicienty set, the timber is removedand the several levers l2 are swung upwardly to theV release po-r sition and the clamps removed.

it will be apparent -'from the oregding, that a very simple and novel form of clamping device has been provided. The clamps areV -cheapto manufacture, are exceptionally strong, .easy to in stall and remove and provide Va very eective means for preventing the outwardly exingoi the -forms under the great vpressi-ire exerted Yby the pouring of concrete therein. The 'alignment A.of the several clamps through the mediurnfo the socket is ext" mel-y advantageous and lavoids consi: tro expense Yin maintaining the forms in a The form :clamps readily adapt 'themselves to :orms "for use .zin foundations, belt courses, .-linte'ls, b'eam's A.oi-theessere@ like and are adjustable within the range generally recognized in structural concrete work.

it is to be understood, that the invention is not limited to the precise form shown, but that it includes within its purview, whatever changes fairly come within either the terms or the spirit of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

.1, In a A.clamp for straddling engagement over a pair o'f spaced parallel concrete form boards that consists of a pair of normally parallel rigid legs adapted to have parallel clamping engagement with the outer sides of the boards, the legs being spaced apart and adjustable outwardly, a cross head rigidly xed to the upper end of one leg, the upper end of the other leg being pivotally connected to the cross head, a toggle 'device for swinging the pivoted leg outwardly upon its pivot, the toggle device including a toggle :link that is pivota-lly connected with the pivoted leg below .the cross head, a iever having end pivctally connected to the 'other leg, pivotal l'connection between the lever and the .link-outwardly of the leg, a socket forming bar fixed adjacent the free end of the link, a stop formed upon the bar to limit the down-ward ,.vi-nging movement of the lever., the Socket'adap-tto receive an aligning timber that extends Athrough a plurality of aligned clamp devices :and lugs fixed upon the link to engage upon the inner sides of the form boards. Y

A clan-ipl Ifor straddling and lclamping 'engagement with the `outer :sides of a pai-r of lpara-llel spaced wooden form boards that 'consists of a pair .oi spaced rigidangle irons .normally :parallel vwith earch other and with a hat sideA of each iron arranged in oppcsedr:relation to its companion iron, a right angle rigid cross head XedA-to the upper end of one angle iron, the cross head 4at its free Vend provided with aplurality-oji pivotal openings, the other angle iron being pivotally connected with lthe cross head in 'one of the fopenings, a toggle ldevice-for swinging the pivoted angle iron `outwardly for vengagement of the clamp over the form boards Yand to swing the Vpivoted angle iro-n inwardly to clamping engagement withvthe sides of the boards, the toggle-device :including an 'actuating lever :that is vpivota'llyconnected tothe .ffl-rst nam-edangle iron below the cross head and extending youtwardly in a normal horizontalgpo- .sition substantially parallel with the cross head,

the -rree end yci .the lever being curved laterally, :a toggle link pivotally connected-with fthe lever lat a point outwardly of the lever,pivotandipivotally .connected at its opposite end with'rthe pivoted -z-.ngleiron the 4free end vof the link 4being 'covextensivewith the freeendrof the cross :headvand l,provided with a plurality of pivotal open-ings identica-lin spacing and number -with 'the cross head, the pivotal connectionsvwith the pivoted angle iron vbeing removable, the link being eX- tended beyond its point of pivotalengagement with the -lever jand provided with a rigid, -vertically arrangedl socket forming bar having its lower end turned inwardly to vform 4a stop for the lever, the bar being normally parallel-'with the ir-st named `angle ironand having its upper @end inclined outwardly, the ybar providing a socket with the first named ianglefiron to receive :a rigid timber therein `to rest upon the Ztop edges of the Vlever yand .the .link and vwhich extends through a plurality of vcorresponding .sockets Eform'ed .by aiplurality of clamp devices spaced :along .the Iiormsand .flugsxed upon the 5 link and extending downwardly to engage upon the inner sides of the form boards when the toggle device is shifted to swing the pivoted angle iron inwardly to clamping engagement with the form.

-WILLIAM KITTAS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number l 6 UNITED STATES PATENTSl Name Date Dyhrkopp Aug. 20, 1912 Hayward Sept. 4, 1923 Rosser Oct. 26, 1948 

